Lipid quinones

LIPID QUINONES

Lipid quinones are important compounds found in all aerobic organisms including bacteria, fungi, plants and animals, they intervene as cofactors in various enzymatic reactions including electron acceptor function. They are characterized by their unique conjugated cyclic diketone structure, which imparts distinct biological properties. They are known to exhibit various bioactivities, including antioxidant, antibacterial, and antitumor effects. Several quinone lipids have found promising applications in industrial manufacturing, healthcare, and food technology. A detailed review of the research findings regarding quinone compounds and hepatocellular carcinoma in experiments and clinical trials may be consulted (Ye Y et al., Biomolecules 2025, 15(10), 1400). They can be categorized into four subclasses: benzoquinones, naphthoquinones, anthraquinones, and phenanthrenequinones

The various structures of the most important lipid quinones enable the following classification :

1 – Presence of a naphthoquinone nucleus :

1A – Vitamin K group which can be divided into

– phylloquinone or vitamin K1 (mono-unsaturated isoprenoid chain)

– menaquinone group or vitamin K2 (poly-unsaturated isoprenoid chain)

 1B  – other naphthoquinones

2 – Presence of a benzoquinone nucleus :

2A – Ubiquinone group or coenzyme Q (methoxylated and methylated nucleus)

2B – Plastoquinone group (methylated nucleus)

2C – other benzoquinones

3 – Presence of a heterocyclic quinone nucleus

4 – Presence of a hydroquinone nucleus  (Alkyl hydroquinones)